"The Heaven-Net Hall dared to force Fuyao to burn her soul essence! This debt will not go unpaid!"
Hearing this, the Sect Master asked, "Old Ancestor, is Fuyao safe now?"
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor frowned slightly. "Currently, we do not know."
Anxiety hung heavy in the air.
Just then, BOOM! The void tore open! Space twisted violently! A terrifying, peerless aura surged through the sky, crashing down like a tidal wave. In the next instant, six Great Emperors stepped out of the rift. They were the six members of the Heaven-Net Hall branch, led by Emperor Canyang!
Emperor Canyang’s face was sinister as his divine sense swept across the ruins of Willow City. The city had been reduced to a wasteland—mountains collapsed, the earth sunken, dark currents surging, and scattered bones everywhere. The Heaven-Net Hall’s token lay snapped and plunged into the blood-soaked ground.
Seeing this, the killing intent in Emperor Canyang’s eyes intensified. He glared directly at the Cangxuan Old Ancestor and the others. "Did you kill my Heaven-Net Hall people and rescue Empress Fuyao?"
Empress Fuyao! The Cangxuan Old Ancestor and the others frowned. Ji Fuyao? Empress Fuyao? A sharp, profound light flashed in the Old Ancestor's eyes, as if he had uncovered a secret buried for three millennia.
The Sect Master scoffed. "Heaven-Net Hall, who gave you the audacity to lay a hand on a member of my Grand Dao Sect?"
The Grand Dao Sect! At the mention of the name, the five Great Emperors behind Canyang instantly paled. The Grand Dao Sect was a hegemonic force in the Southern Wilds, an entity capable of standing against the Heaven-Net Hall's main headquarters. They were certainly not something a mere branch with four Emperors could handle!
The five Emperors whispered urgently to Canyang, "Hall Master, perhaps we should reconsider? The Grand Dao Sect is not someone we can afford to provoke."
Emperor Canyang chuckled dismissively. "What is there to fear? Cangzhou isn't the Grand Dao Sect's territory, and the Grand Dao Sect is tens of millions of miles away. Besides, Emperor Xueli is already en route. The Grand Dao Sect is a hegemonic power, but is my Heaven-Net Hall not a newly risen one? Why should we fear them?"
His five subordinates frowned, still wanting to retreat. They couldn't understand why their Hall Master had become so puffed up that he dared to challenge the Grand Dao Sect.
Emperor Canyang narrowed his eyes, sizing up the Cangxuan Old Ancestor. In the field, everyone else was just a few Saint King juniors—mere ants. Only the gray-robed old man was inscrutable. A mysterious aura flowed around him, making his realm and combat power impossible to gauge.
As Emperor Canyang secretly speculated, the Cangxuan Old Ancestor let out a cold snort and moved to attack.
"Hmph! A few Emperor juniors dare to put on airs in front of this old man? When I was at your realm, you were still cycling through reincarnation!"
With a flick of his sleeve, a profound, esoteric aura surged from his body. Spiritual energy from Heaven and Earth instantly converged, like an ocean overturning, momentarily eclipsing the light of the world. BOOM! A divine radiance erupted from his sleeve, streaking across the sky like a falling star, aimed directly at Canyang and his cohort. In an instant, sand and stone flew, and Great Emperor Dao patterns manifested in the void, forming strange, cryptic shapes.
Emperor Canyang’s face twisted into a snarl. "Attack together!" He immediately summoned his Emperor Weapon, a jagged, ancient broken blade inscribed with cryptic spiritual runes. It swelled to the size of a small mountain, radiating boundless killing intent as it shot toward the Old Ancestor. The other five Emperors also unleashed their strongest killing moves.
The attacks collided with a terrifying impact. A massive ripple of energy shook the heavens, and a deafening sound echoed through the void.
CRACK! Canyang's ancient broken blade shattered into dust and vanished. Emperor Canyang spat out a mouthful of vital blood, his body sent flying thousands of feet. The other five Great Emperors—two Two-star and three One-star—were instantly pulverized by the shockwave! Their corpses plummeted from the sky.
Emperor Canyang stared in utter horror. "How is this possible?" He was a Three-star Great Emperor, and the others were not weak! Which Grand Dao Sect Old Ancestor was this? He was terrifyingly strong!
Cangxuan Old Ancestor looked at Canyang with an expressionless face, while the Sect Master and the others wore expressions of expected calm. The Grand Dao Sect had many sleeping Emperor-realm experts, but the Cangxuan Old Ancestor, having emerged in the last millennium, was exceptionally powerful, his cultivation reaching the Six-star Emperor Realm. A few low-star Emperors from the Heaven-Net Hall dared to be so presumptuous in his presence?
Emperor Canyang wiped the blood from his mouth and climbed back up from the void, letting out a ferocious laugh. "Grand Dao Sect! Very good! If you have the guts, stay here! My Heaven-Net Hall main hall Elder is crossing the void right now. You are seeking death..."
Before he could finish, the Cangxuan Old Ancestor simply clapped his hand down, reaching for Canyang. An immense storm of power instantly surged through the void, as if the sky was tearing open and stars were falling. The entire region of the world began to tear apart like a scroll.
Seeing this, Emperor Canyang was struck by mortal terror. His scalp prickled with the imminent threat of death.
In a moment of desperation, Canyang pulled out an Ancient Jade Slip—a life-saving artifact bestowed by Emperor Xueli, the main hall's Elder. Activating the slip would summon a projection of Emperor Xueli’s power.
Shing! Canyang immediately activated the Ancient Jade Slip. In an instant, an infinite blood sea surged before him, and a towering aura of blood essence gathered. A man in blood-red robes, Emperor Xueli, slowly materialized from the crimson tide.
Canyang immediately shrieked, "Emperor Xueli! That Empress Fuyao is now a Grand Dao Sect disciple! The Grand Dao Sect attacked me! They want to kill me! Please, save me!"
Emperor Xueli snorted and sent the blood sea crashing toward the Old Ancestor. BOOM! A terrifying shockwave erupted in the void. The Cangxuan Old Ancestor stood utterly unmoved, but Emperor Xueli's blood sea was instantly annihilated, dissipating into the sky. Clearly, the Cangxuan Old Ancestor held the advantage, and Emperor Xueli's projection instantly thinned, looking as if it might vanish at any moment.
Emperor Canyang and the projection's face changed. This person is too strong!
But Emperor Xueli remained defiant. His face was cold. "Fellow Daoist, hand over the woman, or I will personally descend upon the Grand Dao Sect to demand her!"
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor laughed lightly, looking at the projection as if it were an ant. "You are welcome anytime."
A mere Heaven-Net Hall dares to demand someone from the Grand Dao Sect? They must be seeking death! In the Old Ancestor's view, the Heaven-Net Hall, as a newly risen hegemonic power in the Southern Wilds, had forgotten its place. Had the Grand Dao Sect's long silence made a new hegemon dare to look down on them?
Emperor Xueli was momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected the Old Ancestor to completely ignore his threat. He changed tack, speaking in a deep voice. "That woman is of great use to my Heaven-Net Hall. If you do not hand her over, my Heaven-Net Hall will never stop! Fellow Daoist, are you trying to provoke a war between the Grand Dao Sect and my Heaven-Net Hall?"
At this, the Cangxuan Old Ancestor burst into laughter. "Hahahahaha!" He looked at Emperor Xueli with a mocking gaze, then casually raised his hand and struck down. CRASH! Emperor Xueli's projection instantly scattered, about to dissipate into the wind.
Seeing this, Emperor Xueli snarled, "Good! Very good! I have memorized your aura! I will personally ascend to the Grand Dao Sect and demand the woman!"
Emperor Xueli’s projection vanished, leaving Emperor Canyang trembling in the void.
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor didn't bother speaking further. He reached out, and with a motion as effortless as picking something out of a pocket, he seized Emperor Canyang. Placing his massive hand on Canyang's head, he performed a Soul Search. The Old Ancestor used a supreme secret art to break the seals on Canyang's memories, confirming the secret of Ji Fuyao's reincarnation. His expression turned grim.
No wonder the Heaven-Net Hall is involved!
A moment later, the Old Ancestor clenched his hand. SPLAT! Emperor Canyang's body exploded like a ripe watermelon, spraying blood across the void.
The Sect Master and the others rushed forward. "Old Ancestor, did you find any news of Fuyao?"
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor’s face was solemn. "None. But Ji Fuyao carries a supreme secret, and the Heaven-Net Hall will not give up!"
A supreme secret! The Sect Master and the others’ faces changed slightly, but they did not press for details.
After a moment of contemplation, the Cangxuan Old Ancestor activated a supreme secret art of the Grand Dao Sect, broadcasting his voice across the entirety of Cangzhou. Brilliant Dao patterns erupted, cascading like a river of stars, projecting an image of Ji Fuyao across the skies. His voice, like a great bronze bell, boomed across the region:
"This woman is Ji Fuyao, a disciple of my Grand Dao Sect. Anyone who provides information on Ji Fuyao's whereabouts shall be rewarded with a One-star Emperor Weapon!"
The sound was like rolling thunder, and Cangzhou instantly erupted in fervor. A high-star Great Emperor from the Grand Dao Sect had descended upon Cangzhou to search for someone!
Soon after, the Xiao Family and Lin Family Old Ancestors from Cang City contacted the Cangxuan Old Ancestor. The Xiao Family Old Ancestor, remembering Wang Man's strict instructions, carefully omitted any mention of Lu Xuan. He only claimed that a powerful, white-robed Great Emperor had taken Ji Fuyao away.
"Where did they go?" the Cangxuan Old Ancestor asked.
The Xiao Family Old Ancestor feigned deep thought. "I vaguely remember that white-robed Great Emperor saying he was taking Ji Fuyao back to the Grand Dao Sect."
The Lin Family Old Ancestor nodded furiously in agreement.
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor immediately bestowed a One-star Emperor Weapon as a reward. The two Old Ancestors were ecstatic.
The Sect Master and the others pressed, "Do you know the identity of that white-robed Great Emperor?"
The Lin Family Old Ancestor replied, "That expert was world-shaking, his aura peerlessly domineering, like a Divine King descending. Divine radiance surrounded him, and profound Dao Essence flowed around his body. We couldn't glimpse a single detail!"
The Sect Master and the others frowned, looking at the Cangxuan Old Ancestor. "Old Ancestor, did the powerful backer behind Fuyao finally make a move?"
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor nodded grimly. "It must be him."
Soon, the Cangxuan Old Ancestor and his group left Cangzhou, but not before issuing a powerful decree witnessed by the region's major powers:
"Ji Fuyao is a disciple of my Grand Dao Sect's Azure Mystery Peak. Anyone who dares to bully the weak and harm her in the slightest, no matter how far they flee, shall be exterminated!"
The words, like the pronouncement of the Great Dao itself, spread across Cangzhou. In an instant, the news flashed across the Southern Wilds: Ji Fuyao was a Grand Dao Sect disciple, and absolutely untouchable.
Meanwhile, the Cangxuan Old Ancestor and the others had already crossed the void, returning to the Grand Dao Sect. On their way, they passed over the Heaven-Net Hall branch where Emperor Canyang had resided. The Cangxuan Old Ancestor simply pressed down with his palm. BOOM! The entire Heaven-Net Hall branch was instantly reduced to ruins, and every cultivator within was vaporized into a bloody mist.
Having finished his cleanup, the Old Ancestor activated an ancient secret art to contact the various Peak Masters of the Grand Dao Sect. "Go to Azure Mystery Peak! Confirm whether Fuyao has returned! Now! Immediately! At once!"
Soon, the Peak Masters received the command and shot through the sky. Divine rainbows surged beneath their feet, like cascading rivers of stars, all heading toward Azure Mystery Peak. The entire Grand Dao Sect was shaken. Countless Elders and disciples looked up at the sky, gasping, "What in the world is happening?"
At the exact same moment, Lu Xuan and Ji Fuyao were sitting opposite each other at a stone table, leisurely eating their meal. Ji Fuyao suddenly looked up at the sky and asked softly, "Master, what is all this commotion?"
Lu Xuan was momentarily dumbfounded. What is wrong with these Peak Masters?
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Dozens of Peak Masters instantly descended onto Azure Mystery Peak. The moment they saw Ji Fuyao, the immense stone of worry in their hearts finally dropped. She was back!
But when their eyes landed on Lu Xuan, their collective temper instantly flared. At a time like this, Lu Xuan is still sitting here eating with Ji Fuyao? Don't they know the Cangxuan Old Ancestor and the Sect Master were nearly driven mad with anxiety?
The Sword Peak Peak Master was furious. "Lu Xuan! All you ever do is eat, eat, eat! Ji Fuyao's return is a monumental event, and you couldn't even bother to notify the sect?!"